OCCULTA

Written by: Chris Fennell, Anne Grimm, Megan Hasenwinkel, and Rachel Seow

Written for Vibs Petersen, FYS 27
December 11, 1997

CHAPTER 1

Analise stood with her back to the door of the hut. The screams from inside were getting progressively worse. She could hear her mother's voice inside giving the other woman firm instructions. "Push! That's right. Just a few more...."

Her mother, Celeste, was the healer of the village, but someday Analise would take her place. Technically, she was supposed to be watching this, but she had run across the village to get some clean cloths. Births were her least favorite duty. Analise much preferred mixing medicines, but her mother told her that births were important. Analise heaved a sigh and opened the door.

The woman's screams filled the air. And suddenly: the screams of another. Her mother handed the woman the yowling newborn and said, "It's a girl." The woman clutched her infant, tears of joy falling down her face.

Analise was pleased. Running across the village had made her miss the worst part of the birth. Of course, she would be lectured later by her mother. She followed everyone else out of the hut, leaving the new mother and infant alone. She fell in behind her mother and followed her to their dwelling.

The argument started the instant they were inside. "Analise, how dare you leave in the middle of a birth! How are you ever going to take my place if you can't even handle an every day occurrence?"

"It doesn't happen every day! And besides, you had yelled for someone to run and get more cloths. You hadn't mentioned that you meant anyone but me!"

"You should have known better than that! You are so irresponsible! I am frightened for the future of this village when I die! When are you going to settle down? When are you going to learn responsibility? When are you going to find yourself a husband? You've had nearly every man in the village!"

"Mother!" Analise gasped. "You know that isn't true! And I thought you wanted me to be sure before I chose a mate! Well, I don't like any of the men here!"

"Well, you're just going to have to choose one! Do you want to be alone all of your life? How about Thade? He's a nice boy."

"Mother, you know I haven't found anyone I could be happy with. Will you please just leave me alone? I don't want to listen to you right now."

"You will listen to me!"

"No, I will not! I am going for a walk. I don't know when I'll be back." Analise turned and marched out of their hut and into the woods.

Continue to Chapter 2